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Early labour and baths

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Category: Pregnant
Forum Name: Pregnancy
Forum Description: Pregnant! Wanting to chat to other mums-to-be (or dads-to-be)? Share your thoughts, experiences, and ideas... This is that place!
URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=7961
Printed Date: 23 August 2025 at 9:29am
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Topic: Early labour and baths
Posted By: Rachael21
Subject: Early labour and baths
Date Posted: 02 June 2007 at 8:22pm
Everything I have read about having a bath in early labour is different so whats right does having a bath in early labour speed things up or slow things down?



Replies:
Posted By: Brenna
Date Posted: 02 June 2007 at 8:33pm
I'm not too sure... I've heard both...

I tried getting in the bath but my labour was so quick I don't know if I even had 'early labour' - lol!! What does your MW say???

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My beautiful 2 girls...nearly 4 and 13 months


Posted By: Bizzy
Date Posted: 02 June 2007 at 8:35pm
i had a bath while in the hospital...and before i knew it there was the baby...

i personally think that what a bath does is dull the pain slightly so you dont feel the contractions as strongly and then therefore dont realise how far along you have come...


Posted By: Rachael21
Date Posted: 02 June 2007 at 8:43pm
My midwife told me not to get in the bath until it was established but I had the back up when I had Jack and she said i could have one in early labour. I spent all night in the bath and all the next day until he was born at 2 pm (in the bath).

I had a long labour but it wasn't bad so I was wondering if the bath slowed it down or not (My mum had really long labours too). I love baths but don't want to get into one too early this time if it slows it down.


Posted By: busymum
Date Posted: 02 June 2007 at 8:47pm
When I was in early labour with Krystiana, my mw suggested I get in the bath because having a bath in early labour usually slows things down. That's unless you're past the point of no return (which no one ever knows when that is). I ended up yelping and getting out of there in a few minutes lol!

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Posted By: Brenna
Date Posted: 02 June 2007 at 8:50pm
when i tried getting in the bath at home I was in so much pain and vomiting that I got straight back out... I planned to have a water birth and when I got to the birth centre I got straight in the bath and was instantly more relaxed and 'pain free' (it was the first chance of my labour where there was a break between contractions). I found the bath (then) to be the best thing for the pain!

I think that if you enjoyed the bath last time, then go with it again!!

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My beautiful 2 girls...nearly 4 and 13 months


Posted By: peanut butter
Date Posted: 02 June 2007 at 9:14pm
rubydooby, did you end up with a water birth? I am seriously considering labouring in the bath as baths so far in my life have got rid of every ache and pain....even this horrible pubic pain goes away in the bath and I can sit cross legged there.

So I want to labour in the bath but I am undecided about birthing in the bath. Any advice?


Posted By: Rachael21
Date Posted: 02 June 2007 at 9:30pm
hey nzpiper I had a waterbirth and Jack was a really calm stettled baby at the start and i think this is because his birth was so calm. In the end you have to feel comfortable with it but i loved it.


Posted By: busymum
Date Posted: 02 June 2007 at 9:34pm
Piper, just give it a try during early labour, plan on waterbirth as option A but have an option B if you change your mind. If you don't wanna be naked you can wear a hospital gown or a t-shirt and the hospital (I presume all hospitals) has spa baths with jets I tried for a water birth with Hannah but it turned out that even though I like being in the shower for mid-labour, I don't like the bath at all! I was really surprised at myself but I just couldn't handle the sensation of the water moving around me.

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Posted By: Rachael21
Date Posted: 02 June 2007 at 9:39pm
Yeah I hadn't decided on a waterbirth but when the time came I was quite happy for one but it could have easily gone the other way.


Posted By: peanut butter
Date Posted: 02 June 2007 at 9:41pm
Thanks busymum, I have to have a plan B anyway as there are not many birthing pools in chch ( I think Chch women's has 1) so it will be first in best dressed (or undressed).


Posted By: Rachael21
Date Posted: 02 June 2007 at 10:10pm
burwood does too


Posted By: emz
Date Posted: 02 June 2007 at 10:35pm
I've heard that it can slow down labour, but mainly eases discomfort in the earlier stages of labour? Can't remember where I heard this, so it could just be more dribble that's floating around my confused head at the moment!


Posted By: mummy_becks
Date Posted: 02 June 2007 at 11:19pm
For me with Josh it helped speed things up so it's different for everyone. Try it and if it slows down hop out and wait a while then if you want get in. For me I was in the bath at 2 pm and labour was established at 3pm. At 5pm things were slowing down and I got back in the bath and it speed up again, and Josh was here at 7.08pm.

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I was a puree feeder, forward facing, cot sleeping, pram pushing kind of Mum... and my kids survived!


Posted By: MyMinis
Date Posted: 03 June 2007 at 7:11am
i had a bath in early labour with haleigh and it worked alright lol.
not long after I got in things had started progressing and i had to get out as I got the sudden urge to push.
if things are going a little slopw for me this time round im def going to try that option again, i had few drops of lavender in my bath, i had also had some homeopath tablets to my mw gave me.

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http://lilypie.com">
http://lilypie.com">
http://tweetytweety85.bebo.com - bebo


Posted By: peanut butter
Date Posted: 03 June 2007 at 9:57am
Originally posted by RachandJack RachandJack wrote:

burwood does too


I've heard that, but unfortunately my OB only does CWH and St Gs


Posted By: Candkids
Date Posted: 03 June 2007 at 6:17pm
Originally posted by rubydooby rubydooby wrote:

I'm not too sure... I've heard both...

I tried getting in the bath but my labour was so quick I don't know if I even had 'early labour' - lol!! What does your MW say???


lol my labour was so quick we didnt have time to even fill the bath.

im not sure what it does but i know it is suposto ease contractions

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http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">
DD 10.5yrs
DS 6yrs
DS 11mths
5 little angles watching from above


Posted By: peanut butter
Date Posted: 03 June 2007 at 6:31pm
how fast was your labour catrad?


Posted By: Candkids
Date Posted: 03 June 2007 at 6:52pm
Originally posted by nzpiper nzpiper wrote:

how fast was your labour catrad?


just under 1hr 20min didnt even have time for any pain relief ( apart from the gas but i kept sucking in and forgetting to breathe out then id hyperventalate lol)

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http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">
DD 10.5yrs
DS 6yrs
DS 11mths
5 little angles watching from above


Posted By: peanut butter
Date Posted: 03 June 2007 at 7:12pm
wow, and that was your first? Did that feel too fast? I mean, i would love it to be that fast but I've heard you can kind of go into shock if it is that fast. Are you worried about it going fast again?


Posted By: Redbedrock
Date Posted: 03 June 2007 at 8:09pm
My MW told me that any time spent in the bath during labour reduces your risk of tears as it softens and makesit easier for your perineum to stretch. I can't tell you how true that is tho as in the end I wasn't allowed in the bath as my waters broke at 35 weeks and the risk of infection was too high

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http://www.babysfirstsite.com">


Posted By: Candkids
Date Posted: 04 June 2007 at 12:10pm
Originally posted by nzpiper nzpiper wrote:

wow, and that was your first? Did that feel too fast? I mean, i would love it to be that fast but I've heard you can kind of go into shock if it is that fast. Are you worried about it going fast again?


yea i was induced twice and nothing was happening (or so we thought) even the monotors wernt showing contractions, it just turned into a massive pannic and it did all happen so fast i dont remember alot of it but yes i did go into complete shock afterwards which was horrible.
i dont want it to be that fast this time thats for sure although i wouldnt want it to be really long either lol

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http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">
DD 10.5yrs
DS 6yrs
DS 11mths
5 little angles watching from above



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